Combination toothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser



Aug. 22, 1961 K. MaGKlRDY 2,997,210

COMBINATION TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER AND TOOTHPASTE' DISPENSER Filed Nov. 19,1959 INVENTOR United States I atnt 2,997,210 COMBINATION TOOTHBRUSHHOLDER AND TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER Kathleen MacKirdy, Canadian Research &Development Foundation, 1434 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario,

Canada Filed Nov. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 854,049 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-93) Thisinvention relates to improvements in toothbrush accessories and moreparticularly to a combination toothbrush holder and toothpastedispenser.

It is normal practice to utilize a wall bracket in which a toothbrush issuspended during the period that such toothbrush is not in use. Suchsuspension means, leaves the toothbrush, and particularly the bristleportion of the toothbrush, subject to be being contaminated by dust,dirt etc., present in the surrounding air, making it necessary to cleanthe toothbrush before use.

Other toothbrush holders have been constructed, adapted to protect thebristle portion of the toothbrush against contamination of thesurrounding air, such toothbrush holders normally consisting of atubular container with an opening somewhat smaller than the bristledhead of the toothbrush, through which the toothbrush is thrust, when itis required to be protected during the period that such toothbrush isnot in use, and from which it is pulled out when required to be used.This thrusting in and pulling out operation tends to bend and deform thebristles of the toothbrush and will, upon the toothbrush being withdrawnin a still moist state, spray moisture on the hand of the personwithdrawing the toothbrush from the holder.

It is normally thereafter necessary to find a toothpaste tube, unscrewthe cap thereof, and after expelling the toothpaste, rescrew the cap onthe toothpaste tube and put this away, these operations having thedisadvantage of being time consuming, and carrying with them thepossibility of mislaying the toothpaste tube or requiring extra space inwhich such tube can be placed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combined toothbrushholder and toothpaste dispenser that may be attached to a wall or in acupboard by conventional means, such as adhesive, screws, etc.

It is another object to provide a combined toothbrush holder andtoothpaste dispenser that will permit quick insertion and suspension ofthe toothbrush, yet will not deform the bristles thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a combinedtoothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser adapted to containdisinfectant means for disinfection of the toothbrush bristles and headportion.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a combinedtoothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser supplied with adequateventilating means adapted to permit moisture from the bristles to dry,yet at the same time, adapted to protect the bristles againstcontamination by dusty air, etc.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combinationtoothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser that incorporates alignmentmeans adapted to align two or more similar toothbrush holders adjacentto each other, ensuring that their body portions are parallel to eachother and top edges level with each other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combined toothbrushholder and toothbrush dispenser in which a conventional toothpaste tubemay be inserted and held by its threaded neck portion.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combinedtoothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser that incorporates automaticclosure means for the toothpaste Patented Aug. 22, 1961 ice adapted toprevent toothpaste drying at the toothpaste exit and clogging up theorifice thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a combined toothbrushholder and toothpaste dispenser, that is readily detachable from theportion thereof, that is attached to the wall etc., whereby thedetachable part may be transported during travel etc., providing thesame facilities as are inherent when it is attached to the bracketportion.

These and other objects of features of this invention will becomeapparent when taken in conjunction with the following drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of one configuration of a combinedtoothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser embodied in this invention.

FIG. 2 is a part sectional side elevation of the combined toothbrushholder and toothpaste dispenser shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a reversed plan view of the combined toothbrush holder andtoothpaste dispenser shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a combined toothbrush holder andtoothpaste dispenser is shown comprising a bracket portion 1 attached toa fastening plate 2, bracket portion 1 being of a hollow, dome shapedconfiguration having, located within the dome, slotted attachrnent means3 of conventional bayonet closure configuration. A body portion 4 oftubular configuration is adapted to have its top end inserted into domeshaped cavity 5 of bracket portion 1, and locked therein by means ofbayonet lock lugs 6.

Backing plate 2 is adapted to be attached to a wall or the like byadhesive means, or by screws inserted through screw holes 7 into a wall.The lower portion of body portion 4 shown at 8 is folded inwards andupwards internally of body portion 4, the cavity between outer wall ofbody portion 4 and inner lip 9 of lower portion 8 creating a channel 10in which absorbent cotton 11 or the like may be located, adapted to besaturated with disinfectant material. I

A portion of the circumference of lip 9 is cut out to a radial depthreaching to inner surface of outer wall of body portion 4, creating cutout portion 12 adapted to permit a toothbrush to be inserted throughhole 13 containing cut out portion 12, the bristles 14 being permittedto enter the cut out portion 12 of lip 9 thereby preventingdisfigurement of bristles 14 upon insertion and extraction thereof frombody portion 4.

An extension arm 15, located at the lower end of body portion 4,contains at its outer extremity 16 an internal thread 17, adapted to fitthe conventional thread located on neck of conventional toothpaste tube18. Thread 17 being adapted to receive a portion of external thread 19of toothpaste tube 18, and to create a seal between the toothpaste tubeand extension arm portion 16 upon external thread 19 being screwedpartway into internal thread 17.

A toothpaste orifice 20, located on lower surface of extension 15 isconnected to the internal opening of toothpaste tube 18, and is suppliedwith a spring actuated clo- .sure cap 21, located externally of orifice20, hinged in a groove 22, located at one side of orifice 20, and heldin place in closed position by spring 23, adapted to maintain orifice 20closed with closure cap 21, at times in which no internal pressurewithin tube '18 tends to press toothpaste out of tube 18, yet permitsclosure cap 21 to open sufiiciently upon pressure being applied to pastein pastetube 18 by external pressure means thereon, to permit paste toprotrude from orifice 20 onto for instance a toothbrush.

Ventilation holes 24 are provided in lower portion of channel 10 adaptedto admit air to disinfection material located in channel 10, permittingdisinfectant fumes to surround the bristle portion 14 of brush 25,thereby sani+ tizing such bristles. Ventilation holes 26 are located inupper portion 4 adapted to permit ventilation of internal cavity of bodyportion 4 in order to permit drying action of wet toothbrush etc.

The embodiments oi the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A combined toothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser comprising abracket, having one flat plate portion adapted to be attached to a wall,said bracket having a cavity adapted to receive a substantiallycylindrical, hollow body portion, female bayonet fastening means locatedwithin said cavity adapted to interlock with male bayonet fasteningmeans, located on said body portion, an arm extending substantiallyradially of said body portion, female screw thread means located withinupper surface of said arm adapted to removably receive male thread of aconventional toothpaste tube, orifice means located in lower surface ofsaid arm, said orifice means being connected internally of said arm tointernal cavity of said female thread means, aperture means located atlower end of said body portion adapted to receive bristled end of atoothbrush into hollow portion of said body portion, and holding meansadapted to suspend said bristled end within said body portion.

2. A combined toothbrush holder and toothpaste dispenser as claimed inclaim 1, in which said aperture means is of sufficiently elongatedconfiguration to permit insertion of said bristled end Withoutdisfiguration of the bristles of said bristled end, the narrow dimensionof said elongated aperture being adapted to suspend said bristled endwithin said body upon said bristled end being turned substantially 90after said insertion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,775,989 Jensen Jan. 1, 1957

